Compensating device.



No. 785,509. PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

- H. MEYER.

GOMPBNSATING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED DEG.1, 1904.

m i 6 Q g; \B g A f::: l

H u g n I W/TNESSES: w INVENTOR ATTORNEYS PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

H; MEYER.

COMPENSATING DEVICE.

APPLIOATION FILED DEC. 1. 1904.

4 SHEETSSHEET 2,

/NVENTO jfe'zwzann .jiyer ATTORNEYS WITNESSES:

.No. 785,509. PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905. H. MEYER.

OOMPENSATING DEVICE.

' APPLIOATION FILED DEG-1. 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

' wad/14% By No. 785,509. PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905. H. MEYER.

GOMPENSATING DEVICE.

APPLIUATION FILED DBO. 1 1904.

4 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

Patented March 21, 1905.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HERMANN MEYER, OF NET V YORK, N. Y.

COMPENSATING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,509, dated March 21, 1905.

Application filed December 1, 1904. Serial No. 235,043.

In (bf Z 1071,0171, it may concern:

Be it known that I, HERMANN M EYER, a citi--- zen of the United States, and a resident of the city of New York, borough of the Bronx, in the county and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Com pensating Device, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

The invention relates to organs, self-playing pianos, automatic self-players, and like instruments; and its object is to provide certain new and useful improvements in compensat ing devices for such instruments whereby undue vibration is prevented by giving a uniform tension to the suction-bellows, thus compensating for the irregular amount of air drawn through the tracker-board, according to the perforations of the note-sheet, compensating for the variation in speed required for moving the note-sheet over the tracker-board, and compensating for the irregular movement given by the performer to the pedals for actuating the suction-bellows.

The invention consists of novel features and parts and combinations of the same, as will be more fully described hereinafter and then pointed out in the claims.

A practical embodiment of the invention is represented in the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which similar characters of reference indicate correspending parts in all the views.

Figure 1 is a front elevation of an automatic self-player provided with the improve ment, parts of the front of the casing being broken out. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the same, part of the back of the casing being broken away. Fig. 3 is a cross-section of the same on the lines 3 3 of Figs. 1 and 7. Fig. at is an enlarged rear face view of the controlling-valve Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view of the same on the line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is an enlarged front view of the improvement, the reservoir and valves being removed. Fig. 7 is a similar view of the same on the line 7 7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is an enlarged cross-section on the line 8 8 of Fig. 7 of the compensating device, and Fig. 9 is a rear sectional elevation of part of the same on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8.

The automatic piano-player on which the improvement is shown applied is in its general construction similar to the one represented in the Letters Patent of the United States No. 756,674, granted to me April 5, 190%, so that a full detailed description of the same is not deemed necessary, it being understood, however, that the key-strikers A are actuated by the pneumatics B, connected with pneumatic valve-chests 0, connected by a duct C and slide-valve D with the main suction-chamber E of the suction-bellows F, actuated by the operator manipulating the pedals G, the said slide-valve D being under the control of the operator manipulating the hand-lever D and the said main suction-chamber being also con- I neeted with the usual reservoir H.

The valve-chests C are connected by flexible tubesl with a tracker-board J, over which passes a note-sheet K, unwinding from a roller K and winding up on a roller K, driven from a pneumatic motor L, the speed of which is governed by the operator manipulating the lever .D controlling a valve D similar to the valve D and connecting the main suctionchamber E with the wind-chest of the said pneumatic motor L.

Intermediate the valves D and D and the main suction-chamber E are interposed compensating devices N N ,respectivel y, both alike in construction, one being shown in detail in Figs. 8 and 9.

The duct G connects by a port a (see Figs. 3 and at) with a chamber 1), formed in a valvecasing D", in which the valve D is mounted to slide, and from the said chamber lead ports (1' and (Z, controlled by the said valve D. The ports 0 and (Z are connected with each other by a leak-groove and opposite this leakgroove is arranged a wedge-shaped recess D, formed in the correspomling face of the slide-valve D. The port 0 leads to a channel a, (see Figs. 6 and. 7,) connected by a port f with the interior of the compensating device N, connected by a port g with the main suction-chamber E. The other port, (Z, has a direct connection with the main suction-chamber E by means of a channel (Z.

The main suction-chamber E has the usual valved connections it with the suction-bellows F (see Figs. 3 and 7) to allow of drawing the air out of the suction-chamber on expanding the bellows and to close the said connections on collapsing the bellows and discharging the valves F. Ports i lead from the main suction-chamber E to the reservoir.

Each of the compensatingdevices Nand N consists, essentially, of a pneumatic N", hav.

ing its fixed part N provided with ports f and (see Fig. 8,) of which the port r is elongated and controlled by a valve 0, attached to a leaf-spring P, located within the pneumatic and attached to one end to the fixed member N and pressing with its free end on the movable member N of the pneumatic, the spring thus tending to normally hold the pneumatic i 2 and the valve 0 in open positions. In order to accomplish the desired result, it is necessary that the spring P be made heavy, and by having it in the form of a leaf-spring and providing a tension-adjusting device any desired tension can be readily given to the spring.

The tension-adjusting device for the leafspring P consists of a screw Q, screwing in a plate R, secured to the fixed member N of the pneumatic N, the said screw engaging the rear extension of the spring P, so that by screwing the screw Q inwardly the tension of the spring P is increased and by unscrewing the said screw the tension of the spring P is decreased, it being understood that the spring bears on the fixed member N" of the pneumatic i Access to the head of the screw Q is had through an aperture fitted with a removable plug S in the movable member N of the pneumatic. (See Fig. 8.)

hen the valve D (or D) is in a closed position, both ports 0 and (Z are closed, and hence the main suction-chamber E is cut off from the wind-chest of the action or that of the [notorL. In case the operator shifts either lever D or D to the right a short distance then the corresponding valve D or D"is partly opened and the chamber E is connected by the port 0, channel 0, and portfwith theinterior of the pneumatic N of the corresponding compensating device N or N, and as this pneumatic is now in an open position the port 1 is opened and connects the interior of the pneumatic with the main suction-chamber E, so that air is drawn out of the wind-chests by way of the corresponding conmensating device, a small portion of the air, however, passing by way of the leak-groove e and port (Z directly into the main suction-chamber E. As the bellows F are working it is evident that the suction action of the exhausted air from the pneumatic N tends to collapse the same against the tension of the heavy spring P, and as the pneumatic closes the valve 0 gradually re duces the opening of the port r to allow less air to pass out of the pneumatic in a given time, the force of the suction action being spent on the collapsing of the pneumatic against the heavy spring P thereofthat is, the pneumatic flutters-and this compensates for the small amount of air allowed to pass by the valve 1), (or I)",) notwithstanding the operator actuatcs the pedals (l with the usual uniform force.

if the operator shifts the lever l) (or 1)) farther to the right, then the corresponding valve D (or D) is opened correspondingly farther and more air can pass by way of the pneumatic to the suction-chamber E, and as the recess D in the valve D is now also moved in register with the leak-groove (r it is evident that more air can pass by way of the port (I directly into the suctionchamber E, and if the lever D" (or D) is moved to its extreme position to the right then the valve 1) (or D) is opened fully-that is, both ports 0 and (Z are uncovered to allow most of the air to pass directly by way of the port 1/ into the main suction-chamber E, and but a small portion of the air passes by way of the pneumatic N into the main suction-chamber. Now when the operator desires to play pianissirno the lever D is shifted to bring the valve l) into nearly a closed position, and hence most of the air is exhausted from the wind-chests C and pneumatics B by way of the compensating device N, and when the operator desires to play forte or fortissimo the valve 1) is opened farther or into a full-open position, so that most of the air is directly exhausted by way of the port (Z and very little air passes into the main exhaust-chamber E by way of the compensating device N. In a like manner when the operator desires to play slowly the lever D is shifted to open the valve 1) but little, to exhaust the air slowly by way of the compensating device N, and thus cause the motor L and the roller K to run at a slow speed, and when a fast driving of the' notesheet is desired then the valve 1) is fully opened to exhaust most of the air directly into the main exhaust-chamber E by way of the port (Z instead of by way of the compensating device N.

From the foregoing it will be seen that undue vibration in the instrument is prevented by allowing the operator to uniformly work the pedals and obtain a uniform tension on the suction-bellmvs F and reservoir ll, thus compensating for the irregular amount of air drawn through the tracker-board according to the perforation in the note-sheet, compensating for variation in the speed required for moving the note-sheet over the tracker-l)oard, and compensating for any irregular movement that may be given by the performer to the pedals.

Thus by thearrangemcnt described the most minute adjustment can be had according to the expression desired by the performer---that is, both as to the loudness of the tone and the duration thereof.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1.. An instrument of the class described prollS vided with a manually-controlled valve having separate connections with the main suctionchamber, one of the connections being direct, and a compensating device in the other connection.

2. An instrument of the class described,provided with a wind-chest, a main suction-chamber, a manually-controlled valve having separate connections with the main suction-chamber for controlling the passage of air from the wind-chest to the main suction-chamber, one of the connections leading directly to the main suction-chamber, and a compensating device in the other connection.

3. An instrument of the class described,provided with a wind-chest, a main suction-chamher, a manually-controlled valve having separate connections with the main suction-chamber for controlling the passage of air from the wind-chest to the main suction-chamber, one of the connections leading directly to the main suction-chamber, a compensating device in the other connection, comprising a pneumatic, and a valve for controlling the passage of the air from the compensating device to the main suction-chamber.

t. An instrument of the class described,provided with a wind-chest, a main suction-chamber, a manually-controlled valve having separate connections with the main suction-chamber for controlling the passage of air from the wind-chest to the main suction-chamber, one of the connections leading directly to the main suction-chamber, and a compensating device in the other connection, the said compensating device comprising a pneumatic, a leaf-spring for holding the pneumatic open and a .valve on the said leaf-spring for controlling the passage of air from the pneumatic to the said main suction-chamber.

5. An instrument of the class described,provided with a wind-chest, a main suction-chamber, a manually-controlled valve having separate connections with the main suction-chamber for controlling the passage of air from the wind-chest to the main suction-chamber, one of the connections leading directly to the main suction-chamber, a compensating device in the other connection, the said compensating device comprising a pneumatic, a leafspring for holding the pneumatic open and a valve on the said leaf-spring for controlling the passage of air from the pneumatic to the said main suction-chamber, and means for adjusting the tension of the said leaf-spring.

6. An instrument of the class described, provided with a wind-chest, a main suction-chamber, a manually-controlled valve having separate connections with the main suction-chainher for controlling the passage of air from the wind-chest to the main suction-chamber, one of the connections leading directly to the main suction-chamber, and a compensating device in the other connection, the said compensating device comprising a pneumatic, a leaf-spring within the said pneumatic and interposed between the fixed and movable parts thereof and a valve secured on the said leaf-spring and controlling the passage of the air from the pneumatic to the said main suction-chamber.

7. An instrument of the class described, provided with a main suction-chamber, a compensat-ing device connected with the suctioncham her, a wind-chest having a suction-duct, a val vechamber connected with the said duct and provided with spaced ports, one for connection with the said suction-chamber and the other for connection with the said compensating device, and aslide-valve in the said chamber, controlling the said ports, the slide-valve having a recess for connection with the port leading to the main suction-chamber.

8. An instrument of the class dcscribed,pro vided with a main suction-chamber, a compensating device connected with the suction-ch amher, a wind-chest having a suction-duct, a valvechamber connected with the said duct and provided with spaced ports, one for connection with the said suction-chamber and the other for connection with the said compensating device, and a slide-valve in the said chamber, controlling the said ports, the slide-valve having a recess for connection with the port leading to the main suction-chamber, the said recess increasing gradually in depth and in width.

9. An instrument of the class described, provided with a main suction-chamber, a compensating device connected with the suction-chamber,a wind-chest having a suction-duct,a valvechamber connected with the said duct and provided with spaced ports, one for connection with the said suction-chamber and the other for connection with the said compensating device, the ports being connected with each other by a leak-groove, and a slide-valve in the said chamber, controlling the said ports, the slidevalve having a recess for connection with the port leading to the main suction-chamber.

10. An instrument of the class described, provided with a main suction-chamber, a compensating device provided with a pneumatic having a leaf-spring carrying a valve controlling a port connected with the suction-chamher, a wind-chest having a suction-duct, a valve-chamber connected with the said duct and provided with spaced ports, one for connection with the said suction-chamber and the other for connection with the said compensating device, and a slide-valve in the said chamber, controlling the said ports, the slide-valve having a recess for connection with the port leading to the main suction-chamber.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

HERMANN MEYER.

Nl itnesses:

THEO. G. Hos'rnn, Eymmnn BoL'roN MARsHALL. 

